Month: September 2009

Four-winged dinosaur found

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Paris, September 25: The stunning remains of a “four-winged” dinosaur have confirmed that birds owe their ancestry to two-footed dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago, the world’s most famous fossil-hunter said.

Xing Xu of the Chinese Academy of Science in Beijing is staking the claim thanks to an astonishingly-preserved fossil of a bird-like dinosaur called Anchiornis huxleyi.

Until now, A. huxleyi was thought to be a primitive bird. It was presumed to have been a near-contemporary of Archaeopteryx, the first recognised bird, which flew around 150 million years ago.

India jubilant with discovery

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Bangalore, September 25: India on Friday hailed the discovery of water on the moon as a triumph for its lunar programme as the country aims to cement its reputation as a serious player in the space industry.

The mood among India’s space scientists has gone from disappointment last month when its Chandrayaan-1 satellite mission was prematurely aborted to jubilation with news of a major discovery made in partnership with Nasa.

PS3 outsells Wii fivefold

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Tokyo, September 25: Sony’s PlayStation 3 video game console outsold Nintendo’s Wii nearly fivefold in Japan in the three weeks to September 20, helped by the launch of a new cheaper, slim version, a survey said on Friday.

Sony sold 257 254 PS3s in its home market in the three-week period, while Nintendo sold 52 229 Wii consoles, the research by video game publisher Ascii Media Works showed.

Prehistoric animal temple found

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Paris, September 25: French archaeologists have discovered the oldest known place of worship dedicated to the dugong, or sea cow, on an island just north of Dubai, two research centers said on Thursday.

The sanctuary believed to date back to 3 500 to 3 200 years BC was discovered on Akab island in the United Arab Emirates, 50km north of Dubai.

H1N1 causing holiday blues

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Beijing, September 25: The autumn weather is glorious, a week-long holiday is coming up, but fears of the H1N1 flu are keeping many Chinese students in their dorms these days.

Schools in Xi’an, a north-western city that has seen heavy flu outbreaks, the port city of Tianjin and the northern province of Heilongjiang have shut temporarily to try and halt the spread of the virus, and the students are akin to prisoners.

Man killed after attacking cop

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Durban, Septyember 25: A man was shot dead after he attacked a police officer with bricks in Inanda, Durban on Friday, emergency services said.

“A suspect was shot dead and a police officer sustained critical injuries in the Inanda area this afternoon [Friday].

“It is believed that the officer went to the Inanda area to look for a suspect when he was attacked and hit on the head with bricks,” said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha.

The officer was in a critical condition when paramedics arrived.

Big B and Riteish ‘Make A Wish’!

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Mumbai, September 25: Perhaps it takes two to tango when it comes to Amitabh Bachchan. For a key song and dance sequence in Sujoy Ghosh directed ALADIN, there is not one, but a pair of Riteish Deshmukh that is being seen.

No, Riteish doesn’t have a double role in the film, but this fun song is set in such a way that ALADIN, played by Riteish, sits and watches the proceedings passively while his alter ego, a much active and vibrant Riteish, grabs the opportunity and matches steps with ‘Genius- The Genie’ Amitabh Bachchan. The song in question? ‘Make A Wish’.

Ashutosh Gowariker: Harman never took it easy for WYR

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Mumbai, September 25: When LOVE STORY 2050 tanked at the box office, not many were willing to put their money on Harman Baweja. However Ashutosh Gowariker, who had already signed him on earlier for WHAT’S YOUR RAASHEE?, continued to show his trust in the youngster. Even though there were voices around him that challenged his decision to persist with Harman, Ashutosh was unperturbed. He not just went on to complete the movie in quick time but also thoroughly supported his leading actor.

Who is Salman Khan’s true fan?

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Mumbai, September 25: Even after getting beaten black and blue by the macho Salman Khan in his latest flick WANTED, Harry Josh still believes that his real hero is Salman!

Well Harry Josh, who plays a villain in Boney Kapoor’s WANTED says Salman is his all time favorite hero. ”Salman bhai is a gem of a person. He is so generous and so down to earth. When needed he lends a helping hand to anyone and everyone”, says a much enthusiastic Harry.

Subhash Ghai selected as the Juror at Emmy Awards

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Mumbai, September 25: The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has invited Mr. Subhash Ghai, ”Bollywood’s Showman” as a Juror in the final round of judging for the 2009 International Emmy Awards.

Mr. Ghai swayed by his brilliance in giving India memorable movies over a career span of more than 30 years. He is the first filmmaker to start his own film, television, animation and media institute – Whistling Woods International.

Mr. Ghai has also been invited as a Juror to attend The 37th International Emmy Awards Gala, which will take place in the New York City.

Abbas-Mustan happy with their debut production performance

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Mumbai, September 25: Masters of thriller genre, Abbas-Mustan, have surprisingly kept quite low key both before and after the release of their debut production LIFE PARTNER. The film had released alongside KAMINEY and the opening week entirely belonged to the Shahid Kapur starrer. However, the family theme of LIFE PARTNER worked for the audiences and from second week onwards, this Govinda-Tusshar Kapoor-Fardeen Khan starrer took charge.

Ever since then the film has been quite steady at the box office, something which has kept Abbas-Mustan smiling.

Shahrukh Khan & Rituparna Sengupta to tie the knot!

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Mumbai, September 25: Fikar not, this knot is not going to be tied in real life! Bollywood’s King Khan Shahrukh Khan and Tollywood Queen would be playing husband-wife in an AD film for Emami’s Chyawanprash, for which they are going to shoot in Mumbai’s Film City.

SRK plays a commoner in the AD and Rituparna his wife. And, of course, it’s the chyawanprash that keeps them together.

What was SRK doing on the sets of BLUE?

Mohit-Emraan to resist racial discrimination against Indians in Australia!

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Mumbai, September 25: The director of sleeper hits like ZEHER, KALYUG and RAAZ…THE MYSTERY CONTINUES, Mohit Suri has formally announced his next project, under the Bhatts’ banner, Vishesh Films.

The film will deal with the current topic of racial discrimination faced by the students of Indian origin in Australia. And for that Mohit is flying to Australia to gather a first hand account on the subject.

Arjun Rampal: With Akshay & rest, I could feel the positive energy

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Mumbai, September 25: Time and again one continues to hear complaints / speculations / rumours / grapevine / loose talk about how Akshay Kumar has short-changed his fellow actors during or after the making of the film. Especially in multi star cast films, Akshay has been accused of either hogging all the limelight during the film’s making or cutting his fellow actor’s role at the editing stage.

Salman’s WANTED creates history!

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Mumbai, September 25: Salman starrer makes 70 per cent more business in single screens than multiplexes in its first week!

Boney Kapoor’s latest release, WANTED, seems to herald the return of single screen theatres in Mumbai. While figures were too premature to be given for single screens alone, one of the trade analysts, said WANTED did business of approximately Rs 35 to Rs 38 crore across India in just a week.

The latest trade figures indicate that WANTED has 70 per cent more business than multiplexes, a view echoed by exhibitors and trade experts across Mumbai.

Kareena & Saif go topless!

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Mumbai, September 25: The first look of the Dharma Productions’ much touted film KURBAAN is out showing Kareena & Saif’s topless photo tagged with a painful message read – Some Love Stories Have Blood On Them.

Starring Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles, KURBAAN is directed by Rensil D’Silva (RANG DE BASANTI writer) and produced by Karan Johar & Hiroo Yash Johar.

—Agencies

Akshay-Katrina to promote the 34th National Games

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Mumbai, September 25: It seems that after cricket, football and hockey, Bollywood and its top stars are also trying to do their little bit for promoting other sports as well.

As per the information available with us, top stars (and hit on-screen couple!) Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif are all set to promote the upcoming 34th National Games, to be held in Jharkhand, from the 21st November-5th December, 2009.

Kalmadi asks sub-committees to gear up

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New Delhi, September 25:Chairman of 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) Suresh Kalmadi Friday said the various sub-committees will have to work towards a succcesful conduct of the Games.

“We have to go in full speed to ensure the Commonwealth Games next year are the best,” Kalmadi told chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the 23 sub-committees formed to help conduct the Games.

“While we have great support from the Central and State Governments, we are dependent on the sub-committees to ensure that we organise a memorable Games,” Kalmadi said.

Case against Sukhram referred to larger high court bench

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New Delhi, September 25: A single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court Friday referred a corruption case against former telecom minister Sukhram to a larger bench, citing several legal issues.

“There are certain legal issues which I have framed in this case and it should be decided by a division bench,” Justice S. Murlidhar said.

“When can a decision be taken whether a minister or an executive member has misused his position? And what is criminal misconduct with respect to minister?” Justice Muralidhar asked and said such questions needed to be answered by a division bench.

Gerard Butler hates to diet for roles

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London, September 25: Scottish actor Gerard Butler hates losing weight for roles because he has to give up the food he enjoys – like cakes and french fries.

The 39-year old actor, who had to slim down for his shirtless scenes in “Law Abiding Citizen”, said: “I want to eat my potatoes and french fries and sponge cakes.”

“When I have to play a role like this where I can’t have my favourite food, I just go crazy,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Butler as saying.

Sexual love is secondary to me: Drew Barrymore

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London, September 25: Twice divorced Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore, who is rumoured to have rekindled her romance with actor Justin Long, says that sexual love is secondary to her.

“I have spent a lot of time in my life dedicating myself to love or the pursuit of love or the understanding of love. But for the last few years, my life just hasn’t been about that for me,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Barrymore as saying.

“Sexual love is secondary to me right now. My life is very refreshing without it and I am trying to understand and relish it,” she added.

Volkswagen India plans to double distribution network

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Chennai, September 25:German auto giant Volkswagen is planning to double its distribution network in India and increase brand spend before its much awaited entry into the country’s small car segment early next year, a top official said here Friday.

“Gearing up to the launch of our high volume model Polo, we are expanding our distribution network. By the end of this year the company will have 40 dealers,” Neeraj Garg, director (passenger cars) of Volkswagen Group India, told reporters here after inaugurating a new dealership.

Priya, Sanjay Dutt support opposing parties in same constituency

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Mumbai, September 25: This is one situation late film star and Congress leader Sunil Dutt may not have imagined. His two children, Priya and Sanjay Dutt are campaigning for opposing parties in the Maharashtra assembly polls — and that too in the same constituency.

Congress MP Priya Dutt will campaign for party strongman and former minister Baba Siddiqui, a close confidant of the Dutt family for over three decades, while Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt would canvas for well-known advocate Rizwan Merchant.

Businessman’s house burgled of cash, jewellery worth Rs.8 mn

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New Delhi, September 25: A businessman who runs several schools in the national capital region has reported cash and jewellery worth millions of rupees was stolen from his central Delhi house while the family was out, police said Friday.

Sudhir Giri, who runs the chain of Giri International Schools in Delhi as well as in its suburbs, reported that he and his wife had gone to visit their relatives Thursday morning and when they returned after a few hours, they found the doors of the first floor residence in West Patel Nagar ajar and the house ransacked.

African vistas on artist’s canvas

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New Delhi, September 25: Memories of the sweeping wilderness of Africa seep through the works of urban designer-cum-artist Antonio E’Costa, who spent a better part of his life in Kenya.

His recent solo exhibition in the capital, “Vistas”, at the Gallery Art Motif in Ladosarai, was inspired by nature. The dozen or so oil and mixed media compositions on canvas were about nature and its “boundless barren stretches” executed with a touch of abstraction and graphical representation of reality.